Two of the largest trade chips went off the board ahead of the Olympic Break. First, the Calgary Flames traded defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights. Then the Recent York Rangers sent forward Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings. With the 2 unrestricted free agents off the board, attention turns to Flames forward Nazem Kadri.
As Anthony Di Marco of the Every day Faceoff stated when asked who was at the highest of everyone’s trade bait board on TSN Radio in Montreal.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Host: “So we’ll get into the Artemi Panarin deal in only a second. Now that Panarin has moved on to L.A., who’s at the highest of everybody’s trade bait board?”
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Anthony Di Marco: “Man, like, is it Nazem Kadri? I feel prefer it’s Nazem Kadri. Like, he isn’t a rental, he isn’t like Panarin, and he isn’t like (Rasmus) Andersson or what have you ever. But I just feel like, I don’t know. There’s just something about Nazem Kadri that I feel like, with him, dollar value of $7 million, I feel he has what, three years beyond this yr, at what’s it? Three? Three years at $7 million. When you retain that, it’s possible you’ll go $3.5 million player. He’s won a Stanley Cup. There’s never any left centers available. I feel like Nazem Kadri could be the guy.”
Kadri’s name has been within the rumor mill for a few years now. Nevertheless, things have picked up this season, given how poorly the Flames have played. While Kadri isn’t on pace numbers-wise as he was last season, a contending team could use his services.
There was hesitation earlier because he desired to remain with the Calgary Flames and help them win. Nevertheless, he’s more willing to maneuver if the Flames approach him about it. But GM Craig Conroy remains to be holding firm on his price. A team could have to give you a proposal they’ll’t refuse on or before the trade deadline to maneuver him.
With names like Blake Coleman, Ryan Lomberg, and perhaps even MacKenzie Weegar available, how will the Flames handle their final retention slot for this season? Flames have retained Andersson and are still retaining on Jacob Markstrom‘s deal, even after trading him to the Recent Jersey Devils. So in the event that they move Coleman or Kadri, one must be retained this season and beyond.
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While Nazem Kadri is the highest goal, there remains to be work to be done before he actually gets moved this season, if in any respect.
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